Timer for automobiles



Jan. 18, 1927. 1,615,101

C. L. SHELTON TIMER FOR AUTOMOBILES Original iled Dec. 20, 1923 M a a mE e/Mir I a" {1 624mm 1. ix/71w Patented Jan. 18, 1927.

UNITED STATES PATENT orrls.

CLARENCE I. SHELTON, OF GLOBE, ARIZONA, ASSIGNOR OF QNE IHIBI) TO WELLA. PETERS, OF GLOBE, ARIZONA.

TIMER FDR AUTOMOBILES.

Application filed December 20, 1923, Serial No. 681,809.

My invention relates to improvements in ignition systems for automobilesand is particularly directed for use on cars utilizing an ignitionsystem similar to that used upon the Ford car.

The ignition system at the present time used upon cars of this type isone wherein the completion of a circuit causes the necessary spark, andthe means for accomplishing this being controlled by the usual cam shaftand arranged at the front o1 the engine, which is more or less adisadvantage when necessary to make repairs. Furthermore, the cam shaftcarries a roller or brush which makes the spark at the plug of eachcylinder by contacting with the points arranged within the timer. Themain weakness in this structure is particularly due to the fact that theroller and points wear out and that the structure as a whole gums up tosuch a degree that it does not function regularly.

It is therefore the object of my invention to provide an ignition systemwhich is so arranged as to cause a spark at each plug by a direct actionfrom each of the exhaust valves.

A further object of my invention is to provide a system of the classdescribed wherein each individual spark may be advanced or retarded, asoccasion may demand.

My invention also comprises various other features which will beapparent upon a. reading of the hereinafter description, in connectionwith the accompanying drawings, and more fully pointed out in theappended claim.

In the accompanying drawings Figure 1 is a side elevation of a motorhaving my improved ignition system.

Figure 2 is a detail view of the same, showing a portion of the valvecover plate, upon which the elements are mounted, broken away todisclose the movable element for completing the circuit.

Figure 3 is an inner view of one of the cover plates showing theelements carried thereby, and

Figure 4; is a spring washer.

Referring to the accompanying drawings in detail, wherein like referencecharacters denote corresponding parts throughout the several viewsthereof,,t-he numeral 1 indicates the usual type of engine as installeddetail view of the valve Renewed December 13, 1926.

upon cars of the type referred to, the same having a compartment whereinthe springs 01" the exhaust valves are positioned "for a ljustment andthe compartn'icnt being closed by a plate 2, upon which I have mountedthe main elements of my improved ignition system. It is of course to beunderstood that it is not essential to mount the said elements upon thecover plate, as they may be arranged upon any part of the engine blockadjacent to the exhaust valves and in such a position that a movement oithe valves may cause the operation 01 the system.

Referring to the drawings it will be noted that the central portion ofthe plate 2 has secured upon its inner side a block 8 formed ofporcelain, fibre or other suitable insulating material, the same beingheld thereto by a bolt 1 which passes through the central portion of theblock and the plate 2. Each end portion of the block 3 is provided witha slot 5 which receives therein one end of a metallic leaf spring 6, ofgood conductivity, each spring being firmly retained within its slot bysuitable bolts or the like 7. The end portion of each spring 6, that endconnected to the block 3, is further connected with a steel or brassbolt 8 which passes through the block 3 and the plate 2, the said bolt 8being properly insulated from the plate by suitable insulating material.The end portion of the bolt 8 receives thereon a wire S) leading fromthe coil provided for that cylinder.

Each bolt 8 is connected by the wire 9 to the coil box with regard tothe proper firing order of the car. The firing order of the cylinders ofa Ford car is cylinder 1, 2, land 3 and necessarily the connections fromthe springs 6 are arranged in a similar order.

The plate 2 has passing therethrough and positioned under each spring 6,adjacent its connection, with the block 3, a stub shai t 10 the innerend of which has fixed thereon an. eccentric or the like 11, while itsouter end has adjustable thereto and secured thereto by a set screw 12,a lever 13, the movement of which rotates the eccentric 11 and raises orlowers the free end of the spring 6.

As disclosed in Figure 1 of the drawings, the levers 13 carried by eachplate 2 are connected by a rod 14, and each of the latter being furtherconnected at their adjacent ends by a link 15, so that a movement of oneset of levers 13 will cause a similar movement of the other set.

In order that the spark levers 13 may be controlled by a suitableoperating lever positioned upon the steering wheel I have mounted uponthe engine block a bracket 16 upon which is pivoted a bell crank 17, oneend of which has connected thereto a controlling rod 18 passing to thecontrol lever positioned upon the steering wheel, while its other end isprovided with a suitable connection to the rod 14.

In order to complete the circuit leading to the cylinders I have removedthe usual washer from the valve stem, and upon which the spring rests,and substituted therefor a washer 20, similar to that disclosed in thedrawings, the same having a vertically extending sleeve 21 through whichthe valve stem passes, the purpose of which is to prevent the washerfrom tilting upon the stem and effecting the accuracy of the timing ofthe spark. The washer 20 is further pro vided with an arm 22, which uponthe usual movement of the valve, engages the spring 6 and completes thecircuit leading to the spark plug.

Having thus fully described my improved system I will now brieflysummarize its operation: Referring to Figure 1 of the drawings, thecurrent passes from a battery or magneto, not shown, to the coil unitsA, from the latter to the terminals 8 to which the contact springs 6 areconnected. These contact are adapted to. be engaged by movable contactscarried by the valve stems, which are grounded, thus forming an openedprimary circuit. The secondary circuit includes the coils and the plugsB. Thus it will be seen that upon movement of any one of the valve stemsthe contact carried thereby will engage the contact 6, thus completingthe opened primary circuit and at the same time completing the secondarycircuit having therein the plug. Upon downward movement of the valvestem the spring is caught by the eccentric 11, thereby breaking theprimary circuit.

In order to vary the time of the spark the same may be accomplished bythe movement of the lever 18 with respect to its stub shaft, therebyraising or lowering the eccentric and change the period when theeccentric engages the spring 6 and breaks its contact with the arm 22 ofthe washer 20.

From the foregoing, it is thought that the construction, operation andmany advantages of the herein described invention will be apparent tothose skilled in the art, without furtherdescription, and it will beunder stood that various chan es in the size, shape, proportion andvminor details of construction may be resorted to without departing fromthe spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, anddesire to secure by Letters Patent, is

An ignition system for internal conilnistion engines including openedprimary and secondary circuits, the latter being controlled by thecompletion of the former, a spariing element within the secondarycircuit, means for completing the primary circuit including a resilientcontact arm carried by a detachable element of the engine block andhaving its free end adjacent the stem of the exhaust valve, an eccentricupon which the intermediate portion of said arm rests when in a normalposition, a washer carried by the valve stem and having a resilient armformed integral therewith adapted to engage the first said arm duringits movement, and said eccentric adapted to control the position of restof the first said arm for regulating the moment of engagement therewithof the second said arm to complete the primary circuit In testimonywhereof I aliix my signature.

CLARENCE L. SHELTON.

